The next edition of Yarn Expo Autumn 2019 will be organised during September 25-27 in Shanghai, building on the success of the Yarn Expo Spring 2019 which reported positive feedback from exhibitors about the quality of trade buyers, while buyers expressed satisfaction about the diverse variety of products that met their sourcing needs and trends. At Yarn Expo Spring 2019, three exhibitors – Birla Cellulose (China), Cotton Council International (USA) and Safilin (France) – were selected for in-depth case studies. Each exhibitor gave opinion on shifting sourcing trends, what needs to be done to achieve sustainability in the textile industry, and how it found entry points into new markets at Yarn Expo. A common theme across each case study conducted in March was the rise in consumer demand for sustainability and transparency, and the consequent ripples all the way through the industry. Manohar Samuel, senior president of Marketing and Business Development at Grasim Industries (of the Aditya Birla Group), observed, “A spinner cannot be sustainable by themselves. We see it as B2B2C. All of us face the common consumer, because the entire textile supply chain is now visible to the consumer. Creating an environmentally-friendly product begins with the fibre, and brands are increasingly recognising this.” Cotton Council International (CCI) gave a similar viewpoint, noting why trade buyers from further along the supply chain are sourcing directly from yarn and fibre suppliers. CCI represents US cotton farmers overseas, and describes the US cotton industry as “one entity” with reliable quality, due to strict national standards. Karin Malmström, director of CCI China and Northeast Asia, said, “Our partners are hearing clear messages from their customers. They are demanding traceability. So the beautiful advantage of using traceable cotton is that it’s easier for the brands and retailers to do their due diligence, by starting right from the origin.” By exhibiting at Yarn Expo, the companies position themselves in the ideal place to attract a wider variety of trade buyers looking to improve their traceability. Herve Denoyelle, business development manager of Safilin, noted, “Usually, when you are a spinner, your customers are weavers. Today that is changing. We are getting enquiries directly from brands who want to learn more about improving their carbon footprint. It’s very interesting. We are meeting a variety of trade buyers at Yarn Expo, it’s very diverse here.” The exhibitors noted the other benefits that come from sourcing directly from yarn and fibre companies. These include access to innovative yarns and fibres that ultimately offer product differentiation. Sourcing higher quality yarns and fibres reduces the risk of costly production problems such as breakage, while creating a product that commands higher premiums at retail. Malmström explained, “We are exhibiting at Yarn Expo because it’s the beginning of the supply chain. If you don’t get it right at the beginning, you’ll never get it right at the end. Your finished product is as good as the material you put into it. It’s that simple!”
